Vehicle top



Sept.' '1925.

C. C.. EDDY AVEHICLE TOP Filed Mayv 17, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Q Se 1 mnllll `C. C. EDDY sept. 1,l A1925.

VEHICLE TOP Fiss Patented Sept. 1, 1925.

UNITED STATES l y v1,552,2ie PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES C. EDDY, OF CORTLAND, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THE BREWER-TITCHENER CORPORATION, OF CORTLAND, NEW YORK, .A CORPORATION OF NEW vYORK.

VEHICLE TO'P.

Application filed May 17,

To @ZZ w/zom t 'may conce/rn:

Be it known that I, CnAnLEs C. EDDY, a citizen of the United States of America, of Cortland, in thev county of Cortland, in the State of N ew Yorlr, have invented new and useful Improvements in lVehicle rlops, of which the following, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention pertains to a new and improved vehicle top particularly designed for use in connection with automobiles, altho it may be usedin various other associations.l

r)The main object of the inventionresidcs in the production of a comparatively light but strong and firm` structure of what mayV be called a one-man top that is easily folded into its collapsed condition or readily extended into its raised position, and in which novel and efcient provision is madel for positioning and supporting the parts in de'- w sired relation ywhen the top is extended with-` out interfering with the collapsing of the structure. v v

More specii'ically, astop means is provided for preventing further movement in an extensible direction of certain parts of the structure and for rigidly supporting them in pre-determined position against further movement in that direction when the desired extended position of the top structure is reached.

rl"he present invention aims to provide for improvement in the lines ofthe convention-` al vehicle top and in all respects make same conform to the requirements of the so-called clear-vision type of top. This feature requires an exceptionally long but well braced cverhung Outrigger truss-like superstructure extending forwardly from a set of main rear bo-w sockets to the windshield support.

This result is partly obtained by the use of a set of mast-like main or rear bow sockets pivotally attached to the body goosenecl; or pivot irons. A boom-like bow standard extending` obliquely upward and forward, is pivotally attached to eachof thel respective mast-like bows by means of novel cranlr-y arms which are adapted to serve as a pivoted stop or lock joint between the respective adjoining parts. The ends of rear sections of my bipartite Outrigger bow areattached to their respective standards by means. of a modified type of stop-pivot joint, and the combination of these two sets of stop jointsf lapse against their respective mainbow supports. n v

Other. objects and advantages-relate to the details of form, construction and rangement ofthe parts particularly the use of a tubular metal bow structure adaptedto I sheath filler blocks, all as will more fully appear from the following description,

taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which i Figure 1 is a partial topplanview ofY the structure. i y j Figure 2 is an elevation looking from' kthe inside of the top structure.

Figure '3 i illustrates the t partially collapsed. j

Figure l is a section onfline 4 4, Figure 2.

Figure 5 is asectionon line 5 5, Figure 2.

Figure G is a section on line 6 6, Fig ure 2. Y

y Figure is a. view of the flexible bow receiver illustrating its method of connection to the arms or bow supports of the structure. .Y

Figure 8 is a sectional view taken ,alongV the line 8 8 of Fig. 2.

The top of this invention, as illustrated in the drawings, comprises a main arm or rear bow-support '-l which is adapted yto be pivoted at Q to a side portion of a vehicle body (not shown). The bow support 1 extends preferably as shown, rearwardly and upwardly from the vehicle body so as to leave substantially the entire side of the top and practically the. entirc'side of the vehicle open and. unobstructed to constitutel a clear vision type of top. A bow standard 3- is pivotally connected to the main arm 1 at an intermediate point ralong the latter and in a novel manner, as will be hereinafter described. s 7

Preferably the standard 3 extends up- Y p Vstructure wardly and forwardly from the bow support sov 1 in a boom like fashion and carriesv near its upper end, the rear section t of stop-jointed Outrigger side rails 5 the front section 6 of which carries 'the' The adjacent ends front cross bow 7 of the sections 4- and, 6 abut flatly against each other when the top is extended to form a stop joint for the sections which pivot about the bolt, 3U- Vpassing through the knuckle joint elements 31 and 32e- Vconnected to respective sections. The auxiliary bow support 8 is pivotally connecteo` to a bracket Q that is connected to and carried by an intermediate portion of f' the rear section 4 of the Outrigger. The

pivota'lly connected to the lower portion of the auxiliary`bow-support 8- and to the front end of a bracket 12 carried by the bow standard 3 The rear section l of the -outrigger VA 5'- has its rear end connected to and supH portedby the bow support '3 in a new and novel manner in that the bow 3 carries, as before stated, the standard bracket 12 whichextends forwardly from the Libow, the forwardly extending portion being preferably'slightly off-set to one side as indicated in Figure 8, to pe 1mit the unobstructed collapsing of thestructure. This bracket 1Q forward of the bow stand Aard 3 isprovided with a longitudinally entending slot l3 which, as illustrated, ishorizontally disposed when the top is extended and constitutes, in connection with pin' or stud M mountedon the bracket 15 secured to section 4 a sliding pivotal connection between the rea-r' section. 4- and the bow standard 3 rThe rear Outrigger sectionf -lhas its rear rail end shaped obliquely so as to lie in flat contact with the 'forward face of the obliquely disposed bow standard 3 and this abutment serves to 'flock the outrigger 4 against downward movementpwith respect to the element 3 when the predetermined position of the topy is reached. The bow standard -`3 is 'in turn locked from furthermovement in an extensible direction when said desired posit-ion is reached, by having `its lower end obliquely formed, as indicated in dotted lines, Figure 3, so as to rest flatly against the forward face of the main arm` 1 when the parts are fully extended, as indicated in Figure 2. For the purpose of permitting this: locking yengagornent of the lower end of the bow standard 3 withv the upwardly inclinedv forward surface of the main arm 1 the pivotal connection between the bow standard 3 and the main arm 1 is effected by ymeans of a bifurcated crank 16 or in this instance, a pair of crank legs vdisposed upon opposite sides of the main arm Vwhich constitutes an important feature of the presentA invention. Each such crank arm is pro"- vided with two legs IY-'- and 18 angularly disposed with respect to each other, iu this instance their disposition being at approximately right angles. The leg 17 is rigidly connected to the standard v 3 while the opposite leg 18- is swivelly connected t0 the main arm 1 lby the pivotal bolt 19 extending through the upturned end portion of the leg 18 which is off-set from the axis of the bow 3 as previously indicated. Any collapsing movement on part of the bow standard 3 will therefore cause its lower oblique abutting end to'be moved away from the main arm 1 by reason of the-throw produced by turning the crank element 16 about, its pivot 19 and after reaching its colla ased position, the standard 3 will nally bemade to foldup and lie alongside the main arm 1 ln like manner. the'collapsing ofthe outrigger 5 is eifected by raising front section 6 which in turn causes vthe pivotal stud 1i/ to -mor'e forwardly in the slot 13 and draw the abutting oblique end of the 'rear section 4 of the outrigger away from the front face of the standard 3 the forward sliding movement of the stud permitting simultaneous pivotalmovementY about the stud, whereby the Outrigger together withits superstructure may be eas.- ily collapsed into the position shown in Figure 3. l

These pos'tive stops provided for both the Outrigger 5 and the bow standard 3- notoniy properly position the parts and maintain them in desired position, but also permit certain portions' of the structure 'to be formed of considerably lighter material without affecting the rigidity of the structure. Y

'The described double stop-j oint is made to center about the standard 3 and it will be apparent` that this construction serves to impart ample rigidity to the extended overhung superstructure to prevent the-downward breaking of the bipartite 'Outrigger joint 5 especially as applied to such vehicle tops as are d .signed for a long wheel base'and a single rear support such as the main arm --1 intermediate supports otherthan that affor ed by the conventional windshield braces (not shown) gives this fully developed clear vision type of deck, a neat and attractive appearance andotherwise enhances .the commercialworth of my improved top structure.

.lt will be understood that the fulcrumed main arm is intended to be further braced with respect to the vehicle'body by means of rlhe dispensing with all i? il llt) conventionalstrainer webs or thelike (not shown) running lengthwise of the top structure and extending downward over the rear bow -23- to the rear of the body tonneau.

Fu1ther,the stop provided at the rear end of the outrigger rail 5,- permits the use of a horizontal Outrigger which will sharply define the edge of a horizontal top covering, and is peculiarly adapted for use in connection with such covering as distinguished from the conventional typesk of bow socket structures in which the two jointed sections of the Outrigger used are ordinarily inclined upward relatively to each other into an archlike form to providel against downward breaking of the bipartite Outrigger.

It will be understood that in general but one-half of a top structure is here illustrated, the other half being substantially identical with the one disclosed and utilized in cooperation with the one disclosed for thereception of the ends of the bows in `like man-l ner -with this disclosure. -23- is intended to bridge a pair of main arms such as -1.; the intermediate bow 22+ to bridge a pair of standards such asV-3-; the auxiliary bowto bridge a pair of linked and pivotedl auxiliarysockets such as 8-; andthe front bow to bridgel a pair of bipartite Outrigger sidev rails such as -5-. f

Y ln the illustrationy of this invention, the arms or. 'bow elements are shown as formed of stripsof' sheet metal bent into substantially rectangular form and having the edges of the metal strip spaced Vapart to 4form an accessory gap for the passage of tacks or` other securing means to the sheathed wood-filler 20- f with which the bent-up strips Aof metal are filled. These arms or other top elements have their wide side disposed vertically as that is the direc-4 tion inwhich the greatest strength is required and the longitudinal slot between the vspaced edges of the rect-angular metallic casing extends longitudinallyfof the arms. This feature of sheathed bow construction is more fully described and claimed in a copending application Serial No. 639541 iled May 17, 1923. The bows -21-, 22- and -23- `may be secured to their respective ybow supports or arms in any suitable man ner, but preferably, each arm or bow support is equipped with a bow-receiving socket -24- which may be formed of a strip of metal bent into proper vcross-section to re# ce-ive the bow, and having its free edges spaced apart as best indicated in Figures 2 and 'T so as to form a resilient receiving socket having suflicient elasticity to accommodate itself to any reasonable variation in the crosssectional size of bows. These sockets 24- have, as shown, flanges -25 extending therefrom and adapted to lie against the face of the adjacent end of the The rear bow K arm or bow-support with which the particu? y lar socket is assembled for securement thereto Iby riveting or otherwise, to forma rigid structure.

Where each connecting rivet or bolt is passed through an arm or bow support of this structure of sheet metal wood iller con struction, the arm is preferably reinforced as shown in each case with a narrow strip #-33- of sheet metal wrapped around the arm so that itsends overlap along one side of the arm. l

Altho I have shown and described a specific construction, form andshape of top, together with perhaps preferred ldetailsof particular structures adapted for use in conn nection with this invention, I do not desire to limit myself to the details of form, construction or arrangement of the parts, or to the particular construction of the constituent elements thereof, asl various changes may be made within the scope' of the appended claims. Y

l. In a top lfor a vehicle body comprising main arm swivelly disposed with respect to the body, av standard connected withk and adaptedto abutjsaid arm, anda bifurcated crank whose one-leg. is secured to one end portion of said standard while its other leg end is directed away from the body fulcrum of the 'main arm and pivotally attached to said arm, said crank being adapted to guide the standard into abutment with said arm to form a positive stoptherewith when the by said extended standard, and means for collapsibly folding said standard together with its superstructure against said main arm. f

3. In' a collapsible top for a vehicle rbody comprising a main arm swivelly disposed with respect to the body, a standard connected with and adapted to abut said arm, and a positive stop-joint comprising a bifurcated crank whose one leg is secured to one end portion of said standard while its other leg end is directed outwardly with respect to the swiveled end of the main arm and pivotally'attached thereto, said crank beingk adapted to guide the said pivoted end por- Vtion of the standard into abutment with the face of the main arm when the standard is swung intoa predeterminedextended position and being 'further adapted to guide the standard into a substantially parallel Ybut offset relation with respect to the axis ot' main arin when the standard is swung into its collapsed position.

4t. In a collapsible Vehicle top,`a main arin, astandard-connected thereto and adapted to abut said arrn, a stop-'joint comprising a bifurcated crank whose one leg is secured' to one'end 4portion of said standard while the other leg is pivotally connected to said inain arinand adapted to guide the crank end portion of the standard into abutment with said arni when the standard is swung intof apredeterminedr extended position, a top superstructurecomprising a bipartite Outrigger raill overhung from and supported by the extended standard, and a second stop-joint pivot nieansbetween adjoining end of said rail and said standard. l

5. In a collapsible top for Vehicle body, a inain arin and a rear bow therefor, a standard connected with and adapted to'abut said arin, a. stop-joint 1 ineans adapted to guide 'the connected end portion or" `said standard into abutnient'with the t'aceoi the niain arni when the Vstandard is swung into land asecond .stop-joint ineans disposed be-A tween the standard and the adjacent end portion Yof A'the Outrigger bow adapted to guide the lastlnarned bow intoabutnient with" the ytace of the extended standard and'serving in conjunction with the first namedstop Ineans to brace tlie'ov'erhung Outriggerl structure with Vrespect to said rnain arin. y

6. In' a'collapsible top for a vehicle body,

a niain arni pivotally disposed with respectv to said body, a standard whoseY one end portionis'connected with and adapted tolabut 'end' portion Fo' the foutrigger'bow, an 'auxil-l saidU-arrntinterrnediate the ends 1vtl'iereof,`a" stop-jointnieans"adapted to gi'ii-de the con'- nected' lend` portion oi'said :standard into abutment with the'inain arni'when the stand' ard' is swung into a predetermined 'extended position, a" front bow, a bipartite Outrigger bow disposedy intermediate the front bow and the standard, said' Outrigger being overhung troni and pivotedly supported 'by' the extendedstandaid, a secondstopjoint means disposedv between the 'standard Aand `the 7pivoted iary bo'w for the-Outrigger bow, and Vmeans ineluding links disposed between the lauxiliary bow and lsaid yOutrigger bow adapted to allow of coll'aps'ing'the vextended top structure. 1 Y

'i'. In aV collapsible top for a Vehiole2body, a niain arin swivelly connected to-said body and inclined'obli'qu'ely rearwardly and upwardlywith respectlto 'theinai'n arni :tulcruin, a standardwhosefone fiend' 'portion ris connected tos'aid arinfafnd inclined obliquely forwardly and upwardly Vtherefrom, 'a stop:- joint' ineans adapted-:to guide the connected V end portionffot said standard iinto abutment with the'v 'oblique aceofthe main arrnv when the standard is swung intoa predetermined extended position, a'tront fbow, a bipartite Outrigger Ibow' disposedfinteiinediate the liront bow andthe standard, said Outrigger being pivotallly supported by 'and ove'ihung roin'saidsta dardto Vextend forwardly of said `niainnrin tulcrunn a secdnd stopJjoint ineansvvbetween the standard and-the pivoted end portion ofthe outriggerbowfadapted to act oonjoi-ntly'with the iirst named stop? joint to support and'brace said overhung Outrigger bow with respect to said lnain arni.

In witness whereof I; havehereunto set niy` hand this 4th dayof May, 1923.

CHARLES, o. EDDY. 

